Save the Water of the Rio Grande Watershed
We, the undersigned, urge the Environmental Protection Agency, the New Mexico Environment Department, and Chevron Mining Inc. to consider up to date techniques for disposing of mine waste at the molybdenum mine in Questa, New Mexico,
Currently 2000 gallons of water per minute carry tailings (finely ground waste material) to an impoundment area overlooking the town. Heavy metals in these tailings inevitably leach into the ground water below, and later, as the ponds dry, the contaminated dust left behind becomes airborne.
Backfilling the open pit at the mine with the tailings, or the use of modern paste technology to solidify the tailings, are good alternatives to prevent the excessive use of fresh water, reduce contamination of groundwater below the tailing ponds, and eliminate air pollution from tailings dust. We ask that no remediation plan for the site be adopted without a study of, and public comment on, these alternatives.
We, the undersigned, urge the Environmental Protection Agency, the New Mexico Environment Department, and Chevron Mining Inc. to consider up to date techniques for disposing of mine waste at the molybdenum mine in Questa, New Mexico,
Currently 2000 gallons of water per minute carry tailings (finely ground waste material) to an impoundment area overlooking the town. Heavy metals in these tailings inevitably leach into the ground water below, and later, as the ponds dry, the contaminated dust left behind becomes airborne.
Backfilling the open pit at the mine with the tailings, or the use of modern paste technology to solidify the tailings, are good alternatives to prevent the excessive use of fresh water, reduce contamination of groundwater below the tailing ponds, and eliminate air pollution from tailings dust. We ask that no remediation plan for the site be adopted without a study of, and public comment on, these alternatives.
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10:44 pm PDT, May 25,
Sophie Szeferowicz, France
I strongly support this petition. |
Both the Red and Rio Grande Rivers have been adversely affected by pollution from mine tailings. In New Mexico quality water is life. It's time to protect the Red and Rio Grande Rivers from a potentially catastrophic disaster.
Clean up your mess and quite polluting the environment. This will become a larger problem if not taken care of now. So get busy and figure out a way to dispose of your waste.
Be good citizens and public servants and do the right thing by making the molybdenum mine site near Questa, NM, safe by stabilizing the mine tailings to keep heavy metals out of the environment and town.
for the future
Nothing is more important than insuring the quality of NM's water and its water sources. Anything that can be done to insure that our water supply is safe should be pursued.
Nothing is more important than insuring the quality of NM's water and its water sources. Anything that can be done to insure that our water supply is safe should be pursued.
